Which of the following communities was NOT included for fast-track citizenship under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019?​

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Muslims.

• The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 was passed to provide fast-track citizenship to specific religious minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who faced persecution in their home countries.

• The Act specifically grants fast-track citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who entered India before December 31, 2014 and were facing persecution on the grounds of their religion.

• However, Muslims were excluded from the benefits of this provision, sparking significant controversy and debate, as the law was seen by critics as discriminatory based on religion.

Information Booster:

• The CAA applies to refugees who entered India before December 31, 2014, and does not apply to Muslim refugees from these countries.

• The Act does not apply to Muslims from these neighboring countries, leading to accusations of religious discrimination and raising concerns about the violation of constitutional principles of equality.

• Controversy: The exclusion of Muslims from this list of communities has been a central point of controversy, and it led to large-scale protests across India, with critics arguing that the Act is unconstitutional and undermines the secular nature of the Indian Constitution.

Additional Information:

• The 1955 Citizenship Act: The CAA amends the Citizenship Act of 1955, which grants citizenship based on residency and other criteria.

• The CAA does not affect the rights of Indian citizens of any religion; it only affects non-citizens from the mentioned countries who wish to seek Indian citizenship.

• Muslims: While Muslims from the three countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) are not eligible for fast-track citizenship under the CAA, they may still apply through the usual citizenship process based on the rules set by the government.